Travel Log: Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Living in a current time of such change, differences of opinions, standing up for beliefs and shutting down the beliefs of others, I selfishly and thankfully find solace and simplicity in staying in on this quiet Friday night and edit the images I took while in Costa Rica. I spent 3 short days of walking around and being welcomed, open-heartedly, by every face that I took a picture of, usually without asking permission to do so. Capturing lives of people who are filled with pure joy to be exactly where they are. I got to eat amazing fresh fruit for dirt cheap prices being sold out of filthy trunks. I got to try mystery meat on a stick from a vendor on the side of the road who was excited to share her story about being from Venezuela . I bought art from a beautiful Italian woman who didn’t speak any English but still spoke to me with such pure kindness and treated me as a new friend. I had the opportunity to search out waterfalls with the windows rolled down listening to music I only wish I understood. I was able to pull off the highway to get coconut water…from an actual coconut. I had the experience of being led by a local to a hidden hot spring waterfall and watched in awe as he gracefully dived in with no fear. With an open heart and wanderlust soul, I embraced the Costa Rican culture exactly as I saw it… a happy, kind place with pure love. Every single time I have ever visited another country, I am only reminded of the fact that there are so many wonderfully different people in this world. I am so thankful that I get the pleasure of experiencing that diversity and come back to this great country to try my best to live in the same kind, open-hearted ways.